#But we won't give up

[wistfulpoltergeist]

Let me put it absolutely clear. Helping Israel by hitting Iran missiles and drones in the air area of third countries (of the THIRD COUNTRIES) isn't an escalation. But hitting russian missiles and (Iranian, btw) drones in the Ukraine air area to save Ukrainian lives is suddenly an escalation. Don't tell me you really care for Ukraine and stand with Ukraine and etc, US politics. Because you don't.

#Don't believe any word politics say #hypocrisy #us hypocrisy #Ukraine #ukraine genocide #war #russia ukraine war #ww3 #I won't say how tired I am from this games against humanity #Absolutely inhuman world we're living in #Ukraine will win this war #Ukraine will arm itself #It will be hard #But we won't give up

[castielsprostate]

hey americans, please fucking vote this year! thanks!

signed,

the rest of the world

#if you do not fucking vote we will ALL FUCKING DIE #like i am NOT kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we will fucking die #i don't care if you don't agree with biden shut the fuck up and keep that orange clown piece of shit out of office #ukraine will fall. isreal will be funded to continue the genocide. #like are you fucking serious? genocide joe against trump's rain of terror? if you do not vote blue you will not have fucking rights lmao #he will try to change the constitution “oh it won't actually go through”. are you fucking insane???? ARE YOU ACTUALLY INSANE????? #unfortunately your stupid fucking president has the power to destroy everything. we ALL don't want that but! unfortunately! it's true! #so shut the fuck up and fucking vote blue or choose to fucking die #this goes so much further than the vapid americans think. this impacts literally all of us. ALL. OF. US. #*reign #like y'all actually think not voting will help.. anything? except give power to the already alt right govts? #this is literally what they want

[themathomhouse]

this disability pride month, stop making jokes about people in wheelchairs standing up or walking.

can I stand and walk? sure, for a short while and with pain. the consequences for trying to be out all day without a wheelchair are that I'll be in bed for the rest of the week, too tired and in too much pain to move.

but the government won't give me my own wheelchair because they have the same attitude as these jokes - I can stand up, so I don't need one. exercise is good for you, you should walk!

it keeps me trapped in the house, unable to do anything more than short stints anywhere without borrowing or hiring a wheelchair - one that causes me pain to sit in and relies on someone to push me (usually with difficulty), because they're not going to have a high-end chair for that sort of thing.

it's not a miracle that a wheelchair user can stand or walk. it's something we should aspire to see more often.

#disability #disability pride month #chronic fatigue #fibromyalgia #cfs/me #post exertional malaise #like fucking hell people we should really be long past this by now #why am I seeing these bullshit jokes on my dash in twenty fucking twenty three #i did a short walk to a cafe yesterday because I thought I was up to it #and my right leg has seized up #my ankle can barely take my weight and my hip won't move properly #also lol I almost certainly have hEDS but cannot persuade a doctor to give me a referral #in summary #stop being fucking dense #i would rather people who don't need mobility aids use them than have people struggle because they don't want to be seen as a faker #or have people think that you have to reach a certain level of severity before you need it #also if I had a wheelchair I would bring my cat with me more places but that's by the by

[flamingpudding]

Drake's family secret #2

Previous Part

Tim was prepared, he had done as much research / digging as he could squeeze in between meetings, even going so far as rescheduling some of them to get more time until the tour guide would lead the high school students to his office.

Some things he had found were worrying even to the point of wanting to just take Danny and move him permanently to Gotham. Even if he knew that Gotham wasn't the safest city either. He had seen the other boy's interest in the aerospace department through the cameras, but with his digging he had found that Danny had been on a fast track for a Junior Space Program with the grades to support it.

Diggin that information up had made Tim proud, thinking that if there was something good about the Drake family it was that both Danny and him appear to have a very good set of brain cells. Though that proud feeling didn't last long when he dug further.

Because then an accident happened to him, leaving him with his last medical record stating a heart condition. After that there were no more dated medical records. In addition the timing of the accident lined up with when Danny's grades pummeled. He went from a A student to a C student in the month following the accident. Not only that but it also appeared that he racked up quite the number of teacher complaints to which he then got labeled as a delinquent student in his files.

Tim had narrowed his eyes at the screen as he lined up the timeline, with some additional information he had found about Amity Park. That information had not been easy to dig up, he had rescheduled at least two meetings so he could work uninterrupted on the strange firewalls that were protecting it, and even then he only got a handful of newspaper clips out of it. But that had been enough, for now.

Because Danny Fenton's accident and declining grades lined up with the appearance of a ghost menace hero Invis-o-Bill. A coincidence? Definitely not. Looked like hero-ing wasn't just a Wayne family thing.

Either way Tim had dug up a lot in a short amount of time about his possible brother. He was still missing a lot of puzzle pieces but he figured he could probably get that information once he made a successful first contact with Danny.

Which was about to happen in a little more than 5 minutes.

His eyes flicked to the door, then to the live security camera feet on his laptop. Yep they were right outside his door. Taking a deep breath and closing his laptop Tim moved to lean on his desk from the front, facing the door.

His plan was easy. give the kids a little motivational speech, spout some inspiring nonsense of 'you too can achieve great things' before dismissing cheerfully but hold Danny back, because his last name was Fenton and Tim 'recognised' it from a list of potential scientist to investment. Have a successful talk and show some interest in the - weird he actually didn't want to touch on but probably will have to consider because Danny had an accident that gave him meta powers that made him decide to go out as meta hero - stuff Danny's foster parents were researching. Ruffle his hair and subtitle pluck one of his hairs in that motion.

For a first DNA test that would be enough. Even if blood or spit would definitely be better, since he had no guarantee to also get the hair root if he just plucked one.

When the knock on his door resounded he cheerfully told them to come in and started phase one of his grand first contact plan. If anyone asked him what he told the students afterwards, he probably wouldn't be able to recount anything he told them as 'motivational speech'. He did his best though to not let his eyes constantly wander over towards the boy.

He took a little satisfaction in the fact that one of the two close friends his possible brother had appeared to be starry eyed at the fact that they got to meet him. That definitely would come in handy later on.

When some of the students started to look rather bored with their attention wandering, Tim thought that this was probably the best timing to enter phase two. Dismissing them with some scripted farewell words, he waited a little. As he expected Danny and his two friends lacked behind when the students left his office.

He cleared his throat, catching their attention. "Mr. Fenton?"

Danny looked at him wide eyed as he turned around to stare at him and Tim internally laughed. "Your parents are on our list of Scientists for possible investment. If you have the time, would it be possible to have a little chat right now?"

He noted how Danny exchanged a look with his friends and the girl among them instantly started to glare at him suspiciously as Danny's seemed to narrow. He cleared his throat once more. "I will ensure that you will get safely back to the hotel your school is staying at. I just think this would be the perfect chance to learn a bit more about ecto-science? That was what they called it, right?"

Okay, plan was not going as hoped as Danny was now full on glaring, not as heated as the girl but still glaring. His other friends had now also lost the starry eyed look in his eyes and was watching him with clear suspicion.

Damage control, damage control! Stop sounding so formal! His mind screamed as Tim once more cleared his throat nervously. "If now is inconvenient, maybe we could meet for a coffee later? I really am hoping to learn a bit more than what's written in stuffy reports."

"We got some free exploring time tomorrow afternoon. It's Tim Drake! We could at least hear him out." One of his friends stage whispered to Danny who continued to watch him with narrowed, glaring eyes.

"Tucker, no." Danny whispered back before addressing Tim. "Sorry, I have no interest in my parents work."

Before Tim could say anything else Danny dragged his friends out of his office to catch up with the other students. Leaving Tim stunned before he dragged a hand down his face. So much for phase two of his first contact plan.

"Okay noted, his parents' research is not the best way to open up contact." Tim muttered before walking around his desk and opening his laptop again. He needed to readjust his plans. Luckily one of Danny's friends, Tucker, gave him some valuable information.

Maybe he could convince Steph or Duke to go to the mall with him to make it appear more natural. Dick could also be an option, he was in town at the moment. But either way that would also risk further questions, when he 'coincidentally' ran into Danny Fenton. He didn't think reasoning with Dick about some good old brotherly bonds would distract his eldest brother long enough.

Maybe it was about time to get at least one of his siblings in on the Drake's family secret.

Or not depending, he could also check their exploring route via the city cameras and then just go coincidentally into the same coffee or food place Danny and his friends happened to go to.

Yeah that sounded better than getting his siblings involved already.

#dp x dc #danny fenton #danny phantom #dpxdc #dcxdp #crossover #tim drake #fanfic #Danny was born a Drake but got given up for adoption #Danny his Tim's younger brother #He just doesn't know that #Tim knew he had a little brother but couldn't find him yet #The Waynes know nothing about this #Phase one and two of Tim's plans failed #His parents research is not the best topic to win Danny's trust #But Tim won't give up #and in typical Wayne fashion #decides against communication with the rest of his family #unedited #no beta we die like danny

[butterflysonnets]

yes i'm rooting for m*leven breakup because byler is neat but mostly? i'm rooting for m*leven breakup for the sake of el and mike.

to me, their romance was always a puppy love born out of a combination of social pressures, naïve curiosity, and a lack of true understanding regarding intimacy and romantic love and what it really is. it was real in that they do truly, deeply care about each other and they are close friends, maybe even shared an attraction, but a maturing romance is so much more than that. they've grown up and out of being boyfriend/girlfriend, and that's okay! i think television/film needs to show more often that most of us don't have definite "soulmates" or first childhood loves that we spend our whole lives with. it doesn't mean these relationships meant nothing and didn't impact us, it just means they've run their course and that something else is in the cards, and this is part of life!

i've always felt el was at her best and most confident self when broken up with mike, discovering who she was and what she liked alongside another girl her age instead of just relying on mike for mentorship on how to live in the real world. she deserves more of an opportunity to find herself, her autonomy, and her independence, and to love who she is, and she's made it clear she's felt insecure in the relationship with mike because she isn't being loved and understood the way she wants, needs, and deserves from someone who is her partner.

also, it's okay if mike doesn't love her in "the way he should". he is not obligated to love her romantically and stay in a relationship with her just because she's a girl, because she "needed someone", or because he cares about her a lot. he shouldn't be pressured into a romance if it's not truly coming from his heart. he deserves freedom to find out and honour who he is, too, instead of just staying in his non-functional first relationship — one he got into as a child, essentially — and defining himself that way because it's what's expected when a boy and a girl are close. he loves her in some way, yes, but it's okay if he doesn't feel comfortable or secure being her boyfriend anymore, for whatever reason that is. he's felt insecure too, and that's valid and it matters.

they are their own people and are steadily growing and changing every day. they need time to figure out who those people are, and it's become clear (at least in my opinion) that those people aren't meant to be a couple at this stage.

they deserve freedom. they deserve to grow up and be authentic to themselves and not feel like they need to lie for the sake of a relationship. they deserve to move on from this version of their relationship that isn't making them happy and rekindle the best part of their bond: their strong, beautiful friendship. they don't have to be a couple if it doesn't make them stronger and better and happier people.

i think it would be healthy and wonderful for a show, especially one consumed frequently by young adults, to show a relationship starting, progressing, and ending on good terms in this way. sometimes things don't work out, and that is okay.

#eve text #elmike #stranger things #byler #only tagging byler because i feel like yall will like this take lol #tagging tagging tagging WHAT ARE EVERYONE ELSE'S THOUGHTS #god i can't believe i'm making a post about stranger things. this feels like poking a bear #i'm not particularly anti m*leven but like... they'd have to do something pretty special at this point for me to feel like it's viable #i'm seeing the bts of s5 and it's got me Having Thoughts #elmike friendship is something i am so passionate about #even before i ever liked byler (didn't ship at all until s4 even though i knew it was a thing before) i've felt this way about elmike #i always believed they were close friends at heart and needed to break up #the romance part of them felt very distinctly young and very much “he was a boy she was a girl” to me #and it hasn't deepened into anything more mature and i don't see how it could based on the current state of the writing... #the fact that lumax exists — a young relationship that is actively maturing and is healthy — makes that clear to me #and the “love confession” in s4 and how disingenuous and miserable it felt was just the nail in the coffin #also the fact that will (who is IN LOVE with mike) was instrumental in making it happen? ... uh... okay... interesting choice… #fucked up and reductive if they make it another queer unrequited love sacrifice for the sake of pushing the heterosexual agenda YUCK #so i really hope the speculation about a m*leven breakup is real!! i think it just makes sense for their characters but who knows #i don't believe in the notion of love at first sight or one true love and i think the writers don't too??? #love to me is an accumulation of experiences and we inevitably choose it at some point rather than fall into it... but idk #tv is so fixated on keeping couples together... sometimes it's just not reality guys especially with young people... LET IT GO... #like i said though i'm not 100% sold that they're going to give up their “golden couple” LMAO #stranger things hasn't historically subverted too many tropes if i'm being honest #anyway i seriously need this season to come out quickly... i'm so bored and getting my master's is crushing my soul #i need frivolity #ALSO btw i won't respond to hateful messages about this so please don't bother. it's not that serious. this is a netflix show

[silver-horse]

guys I felt genuine fear in my stomach while reading this tweet...

#this can't be happening... please ... #we really can't have anything good now... huh... everything will be tainted by greed... shit adaptations are incoming #horrid sequels etc... I am so sad that larian doesn't even own the fucking characters they made! fml #I haven't been interested in any of my hobbies in the past decade... bg3 helped me regain some of that joy #but this will be also screwed soon... it's already happening... how great #I understand why they are moving away from bg3... and I didn't expect any new content or dlc or anything like that #but I didn't expect that the characters will be handed over to WOTC ... that is horrible #my post #my posts #bg3 mine #larian studios #current events #giving me doomsday feelings ... but I already had doomsday feelings from the war getting worse nearby... #I guess if russia kills us all I won't have to feel sad about how all my favourite stories are ruined... oh well #apparently my mom is stocking up on food as if a bag of rice could save her if they drop an atomic lol #negativity posting #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #wizards of the coast #twitter

[musicalchaos07]

I know we all want an og monster hunting trio revival in s5 but consider the following instead:

It's giving The boys are back in town, the boys of summer, The boys are back. A little mansplain, manipulate, malewife. Very much introducing your new bestie to the one that got away and them hitting it off.

#this is a dream I've had since lunch and im not giving up now #i think this dynamic would be SO FUN #in the middle of the apocalypse #steve (judging) : so you spent the whole time in California High #Jonathan (pissed) : so you told my girlfriend you want her to have six kids #Argyle (vibing) : so you guys need to chill out #i know it won't happen but a girl can dream #Jonathan needs some yellow her with the team babe #stranger things #jonathan byers #steve harrington #Argyle #jargyle #stonathan #stargyle #the trio needs a nickname #we should work on that #tell your boyfriend if he says he got beef that I'm a vegetarian and i ain't fucking scared of him #meanwhile Nancy and Robin are like WTF is wrong with y'all

[skellydun]

who wants to accompany me to this may 4th wedding that is not star wars themed and where i will know only the bride and get very drunk and then gamble afterwards bc it's at a casino

#i said yeah im bringing a plus one! and guess who does not have that. and bruh the dating apps are so bad 😔 #i will put an ad out on Pittsburgh craigslist for a date #its a free stay free drinks free dylan time and if im drunk i will be very affectionate 😜 #i wish i was not being serious that gives us some time to prove we won't murder one another AND WE CAN MAKE UP A COMPLETELY RANDOM HISTORY #ooooooo lets lie

[fuckmeyer]

blows my mind there's not even a Chinese coven in The Twilight Saga. no Indian coven. only ONE coven in the Middle East/Africa: EGYPTIAN. no Greek coven, no Iranian coven, no Afghan coven, no Ethiopian coven, no Nigerian coven; FUCK ancient civilizations i guess! no one in South or Central America but the AMAZONS???? for real?????? the POTENTIAL to incorporate LEGENDS and HISTORY and CULTURE — wasted! i CANNOT with this author thinking the only vampire civilizations exist in Europe & America!! fuck off directly into the sun!!!

#you know what the worst part of this is???? #it's actually better off they don't exist because you KNOW Meyer will just depict them as RACIST CARICATURES #this tag is sponsored by Maria 'her features were clearly Mexican' [NO LAST NAME GIVEN] #and of course the 'wild' 'feral' Amazons #oh and lest we forget Amun 'all Egyptians look the same' [last name] #OH AND LEST WE FORGET #THE ENTIRE NATIVE TRIBE MEYER APPROPRIATED & COLORED W/ RACIST TROPES & STEREOTYPES JUST TO PROFIT OFF OF W/O GIVING BACK ANYTHING TO THEM #yeah it's such a shame actually this author is so ignorant bc this series could have been batshit insane with coolness #whatever you won't hear me complaining too much - that's what this fandom is for #saddle up twilight bitches we ride at dawn #twilight #twilight renaissance #the twilight saga #twilight saga

[novelconcepts]

Do you ever just lay awake at night, turning over in your head the stark difference in delivery between Hewson's Van saying--steadily, unshakably--"it's just something that's happening to you...happening to us" and Cypress' Taissa saying--imploringly, whiningly--"this was not just my dream, this was our dream"?

Do you ever just turn it over and over, how often Tai tried to scare Van away, and how it only made Van set her feet more firmly? How Taissa's first love was this person who saw a problem fall into Taissa's lap, a problem that was quite literally trapped inside Taissa's body, and decided unflinchingly: No, that's an us problem now? How she refused point-blank to walk away even with blood in her mouth, how she flatly informed Tai "I'm never gonna be scared of you", and promptly turned a moment of pain into a declaration of love? And how this would etch itself into Taissa for the rest of her life? How she'd take these things that worked with Van--with the person Van was, with the bond they shared--and try so hard to run through an identical script with Simone?

Except Simone is her own person. A completely different kind of person. A person who hasn't been offered any of the context, any of the realities going on inside Taissa. So: naturally she doesn't respond the way Van did at eighteen--and will go on to do all over again in her forties. Naturally, she hears our dream as the excuse it is, not as a plea for connection. Naturally, she is scared away when Taissa pushes, and shouts, and begs. Because there isn't blood in her mouth, not yet, but there will be. And they have a son to worry about. And she isn't eighteen and a special kind of immortal, a special kind of romanticized. She's a grown woman with responsibilities, with priorities, with an understanding that you can't fix someone just because you love them. And Tai can't just perform a revival of the play she and Van had memorized twenty-five years later with a whole new performer in the works, and expect it to shake out the same.

Of course it doesn't work. But look at Taissa trying it. Look at Taissa trying to reframe her first love through a new lens. Trying to recast it. Trying to play it through again. Van taught her love was sticking out the blood, shaking off the pain, making a you problem into an us problem. Does it ever just eat at you, how tragic it is, watching Taissa try to shape her marriage around a woman who isn't even wearing a ring?

#yellowjackets #yj meta #taivan #sorry i'm just fucking obsessed with cypress' delivery choice in that scene #it is the most immature we EVER hear tai sound #and it's not teenage taissa. it's adult wife-mother-almost senator tai flat out whining in desperation #it is SUCH a choice #and then after the S2 opener to hear van sound so adult offering a glimpse as to WHY tai would #so pleadingly seek turning a Tai Thing into an Us Thing #yeah. yeah of course she would. because van shared the worst of her #van shared it without allowing tai to dissaude her. van quite literally tethered herself to tai's problems #and tai learned: that is what love is #and tai thought: this is what love is #it's sharing. and giving up on sharing is surrendering the whole thing #and she's lying! is the thing! she's lying to simone and to herself #she's making excuses for doing what she wants to do even though she shouldn't be doing it #but the core of it is Team. the core of it is Us. the core of it is #'if you love me you will be on my side. for better or worse.' #because that's what van did. for better. and for so much worse. #which isn't true. isn't actually how love works. love is sometimes putting your foot down and saying 'nah dude that ain't it.' #love is communication. but that was never taivan's game and it isn't tai's now and so she's just trying old plays #and it is NOT a play that can ever work the same with simone in the leading role. nor should it. #but god everything about them makes me so sad because simone deserves better and taissa needs what she won't admit to #anyway. will be absolutely gnawing at the walls until S3.

[sysig]

They’re perfect for each other honestly (Patreon)

#Doodles #Adventure Time #Fionna and Cake #Simon Petrikov #Golbetty #It's not exactly Petrigrof but like - it's not Not that either lol #I'm really really happy that the show acknowledges that Simon was selfish in his and Betty's relationship - it's Very Good #And at the same time in it's small way Beth does give the concession of ''I guess that wasn't exactly [his] fault'' #They're both called out! Betty's obsession with Simon caused her own self-destruction - and she takes responsibility for it #Simon is still shafted with the consequences but it's not like Betty doesn't get her own consequences #This whole journey is just more consequences of both of their actions! Of what Betty modeled she was willing to give up! #And Simon loves her. He respects her. He was selfish and self-driven but that didn't stop her from taking root and inspiring him in return #Her being self-sacrificing and then in her own selfish way not letting Simon make the same mistakes as her I just hhhhh #They're so lovely ♥ #It's a bit matronizing of her haha but she Wants with her entire essence - she always has <3 #It's her turn to be selfish Simon has had his turn - she won't let him throw away her gift as much as he wants to #They're just both so beautifully flawed ahhhhh <3 <3 #''We made our choices. We could've made better ones but...I don't have any regrets.'' #It's about breaking the cycle! Of him rejecting making the same mistakes! It's beautiful ;; #Also all the halo imagery drives me nuts ♥ Angel bf and his cosmic goddess gf

[magnoliascelebration]

sooo it's almost one month left before the end of the car era so @ arctic monkeys you still have time to release That One Very Important Song That Didn't Make It To The Album.. don't leave us hanging 👉👈

#listen #did they trick us #have we all been clowned again #i was sooo excited for this song from the moment i read these interviews #from the moment ue said he's looking for the ways to release it #i won't give up hoping that easily #also it'd be so cruel if the car ends up being the only album with no b sides at all #it was supposed to be there all alonggggg #and it's not in the endddd #💔 #arctic monkeys

[kitmarlowe]

Inside No. 9: The Last Weekend

#inside no 9 #inside no. 9 #steve pemberton #reece shearsmith #gif #inside no 9 spoilers #in9 spoilers #what if we just ignore the ending #reece and steve: but that's the story!!! #sssh you introduced denial #i'm kidding it was very in9 never trust anything they give you #i thought i won't gif the dance because someone else will be on that and i still end up making a near identical post to someone soz

[sealrock]

>corporate needs you to find the difference between this picture and this picture >they're the same picture

#mypost. #ffxiv gpose #ffxiv screenshots #ffxiv oc #🍃 #we interrupt the tarot gpose series for a silly 5-minute meme remake #yea i did this before but i'm doing it AGAIN #andi after finding hector's doppelganger on the first: i won't mess things up this time #me the writer: lol. lmao even #i haven't properly introduced her yet but this is chryseis: paris' half-sister from the first #their relationship wasn't so meme worthy in the beginning mind you. it was very much like cain and abel #andi figured she could start over anew on the first and chryseis was paris' replacement #but it's ok now chrys lives on the source after endwalker because interdimensional travel was achieved because I SAID SO #'but cid how would this even work-' ssshhhhhhhhh #i wanted to give paris a baby sibling for the longest time let me have this

[cienie-isengardu]

Everyone talks about Bi-Han being gullible/stupid etc for believing Shang Tsung + being manipulated by him. But Bi-Han sided with Shang Tsung because he wanted to break the Lin Kuei free from Liu Kang's control. He only accepted the alliance when he saw the Dragon Army and thought they actually had a good chance of winning. Meanwhile it's crickets on Hanzo "I killed your brother for no reason" Hasashi who got played by Quan Chi the man who actually killed his family & clan and whom Scorpion still grovels to. Not to mention that Raiden said he would try to get Hanzo's family restored if he didn't kill Bi-Han and this loser did it anyway. And this is only the tip of the iceberg for how much jackassery this fool pulls across every game. Yet Bi-Han is the irredeemable evil asshole because he *checks notes* says some mean things to his brothers >:( and some of this is done as Noob Saibot which btw loops back to Hanzo because Bi-Han wouldn't have ever become Noob if Hanzo hadn't killed him.

I think the most gullible person in MK1 was in fact Shang Tsung himself, who for some reason believed that a powerful mysterious being showing up out of nowhere would willingly share her power with him. Talk about a new level of naivety!

I have a theory of mine, that Titan Shang Tsung gave enough information about (previous timeline) Sub-Zero to his younger version, because breaking Lin Kuei from Liu Kang’s control was a personal matter to him. Like yes, it would weaken his enemy and bring the planned  chaos and “evilness” into the timeline he despited, but looking at the fact how Lin Kuei in majority of source material was an assassin clan with a strong, old-centuries ties to Shang Tsung, it feels to me likely that "reclaiming" the Lin Kuei was a matter of honor to him. Double so, as some sources went so far and presented elder Sub-Zero if not outright the favorite then one of favorite assassins working for the sorcerer. Frankly, as the story mode shows alone, “Damashi” talked and warned both Shang Tsung and Quan Chi about Lin Kuei before Sub-Zero even met any of them, so there was some behind-the-scenes preparation done and for all we know Bi-Han was targeted by the evil Titan before the main events even unfolded. 

As for Bi-Han, right now he has this misfortune to be blamed and hated for everything, whether he actually did it or not, so no matter what is the topic, he is in a losing position by definition. However, like you said, Sub-Zero did not agree on the spot to join Shang Tsung and actually had a chance to see what the supposed allies could offer him so it is not like he fell for empty promises alone. What is important to remember, Lin Kuei were one of major defenders of Earthrealm, so Bi-Han’s choice to switch sides actually would weakened Fire Lord’s forces, leaving him with Shaolin Monks and - depending how in Liu Kang’s timeline military technology evolved - the armed forces of nations that had no idea about Outworld’s threat. But the first part of Shang Tsung and General Shao’s plan was about depriving Sindel and her daughters of the throne, so there is possibility that before Earthrealm would be put in direct danger, Sub-Zero could alter his plans depending how well the teamwork would go with the sorcerers and General Shao.

If Kuai Liang and Tomas were either captured or eliminated from the picture, Liu Kang would not even know that Bi-Han switched sides until the attack - or, if the alliance played smart, Lin Kuei could backstab Fire Lord’s forces from the inside. And in the scenario in which Bi-Han was not captured by his brothers, he still could have an option (backup plan) to play Shang Tsung’s failure to his own gain if he was cunning enough. For example, he could betray the sorcerer to earn Earthrealm’s victory in the important moment and then lie to Liu Kang’s face that was his true plan from the start - the mission has failed, Lin Kuei brothers were outnumbered; he and Scorpion were trapped inside the fortress with Smoke, who if lucky, managed to hide himself (not something Sub-Zero could even knew). With no way to warn the Fire Lord and not seeing a better solution at that moment, under the pretense he is ready to betray Earthrealm, he learned what Liu Kang’s enemy were doing. Then trusting in brother’s skills, on purpose lied to Kuai Liang to piss him off enough so he could get out and reunite with Smoke. And when Bi-Han faced his angry brothers he fought only to let them run away, so they could carry on the important news to Liu Kang, while scarring Scorpion’s face as proof he was on board with Shang Tsung, so no one could doubt him. Because duty comes above family and isn’t that what was expected from Grandmaster and Lin Kuei?  Isn’t that what their father wanted? For them all to serve Fire Lord and Earthrealm at any cost?

And mind you, at this point in the story Sub-Zero had no idea that Liu Kang was in fact once Keeper of Time and had an access to Geras/Hourglass to rewind time and check what actually happened. For all Bi-Han knew then, the lie would be unprovable and, at worst, he would have to earn Fire Lord and his brothers’ trust again but then, it would be much more easy to play on their guilt, how easily they doubted when he was willing to go extra miles for the sacred duty they all talk and talk and talk about. At the same time, the experiences would teach Bi-Han he can’t trust his brothers and in future he needs to be more cunning about breaking out from Liu Kang’s control and probably relying more on Sektor & Cyrax. 

(And even if Kuai Liang would be upset, he couldn’t complain, because he is the one that wanted to uphold tradition. Bi-Han could then easily come back to the lie he tried to save father’s life and all the cruel things he said back then were an unpleasant necessity and how could you, my dearest brother, doubt me so easily…?)

Of course, in the end Sub-Zero was captured by his brothers and the possibilities thwarted but my point is, just because Bi-Han joined Shang Tsung, it does not mean he had no longer any autonomy over the course of action or that he wouldn’t make a backup plans for various outcomes. Lin Kuei were trained from childhood to do their duty and as far as we could see, they play the role of black ops for Liu Kang - what most likely also includes espionage. And in the espionage art one must be ready to act at any given moment and plan ahead. Bi-Han said himself, he has no loyalty to Earthrealm nor to Outworld and I do not doubt he would play the game with his survival and Lin Kuei’s best interest in mind. Who he would need to betray in the process would depend on who was winning and who was the most beneficial ally.

I think we all can agree that Lin Kuei mission and Bi-Han’s betrayal was a rushed subplot and both the brothers and emotional impact of the story would benefit more if Sub-Zero wasn’t cut off from the events right away after fulfilling his main purpose - giving a ground for new Lin Kuei vs Shirai Ryu conflict that won’t have any importance until the next games will use it. It is not even a matter if Bi-Han acted logically or not, but more the feeling of incompetence of everyone involved. Nitara and Ermac didn’t raise the alarm the moment when intruders were spotted (and Nitara literally screeched / screamed when she attacked Smoke). Bi-Han didn’t behead Shang Tsung when he had an occasion; instead he idly waited for enemy soldiers to run up to Lin Kuei - and really, if he knew the mission was endangered, he should have used the precious seconds to eliminate the target. Even if he was killed, there would be one enemy less for Liu Kang to deal with. Kuai Liang alone beat all the main fighters, burning the stone soldiers like they were nothing while Smoke, well he had one moment of serious panic and after that was just there, pushed to the background. Bi-Han’s choice and development of his subplot could be taken in interesting, even twisted directions in the hands of capable writers. And by that I don’t mean the intelligence of writers but capability to care for Bi-Han’s plot beyond the need to break Lin Kuei from Liu Kang. Because him acting either on impulse or seizing an opportunity he awaited for years does not mean he needs to stick to Shang Tsung & General Shao to the bitter end. I, for one, would like to see how cunning Sub-Zero could be in such a situation but for that NRS would need to let him be in the story as a full-fledged character that develops alongside the events and not be just there to push events and other characters' storylines forward.

As for original Scorpion, I feel there is in general a great change in perception of his and Sub-Zero’s storylines, as Scorpion in the earliest source materials, including the oldest comics, usually played the role of antagonist, while Sub-Zero even as an assassin could be pretty heroic on his own. Now the roles seems to turn around, however I suspect the main reason why fans give Hanzo benefit of doubt and forgive him any foolish decisions but won’t give Bi-Han the same treatment comes down to this: Hanzo is acting on strong emotions, something we can see by visually aspect of the games and heard him personally speaking about them while Sub-Zero does not externalize his emotions, because such openness is not in his nature (the old comics are better in that aspect but how many people even remember them these days?). It is much easier for fans to forgive character’s “stupidity”, the all wrongly made choices when character will openly admit to be upset, angry, devastated or traumatized than to forgive the one that won't spill out their guts, won’t cry or feel sorry for themselves and will just adapt and go on with their life. People forgive acting on overwhelming emotions when those are all over the place because emotions are something easy to relate - and who of us did not lose control over them at least one? Hanzo is powerful male character in terms of firepower and skills alone but he is also deeply messed up, traumatized man whose life was fucked up and now he is trying hardly to piece it together and to rebuild his sense of humanity and honor. Bi-Han as Noob Saibot just… adapted and moved on with his life and the amount of people he would admit any feeling of regret or injustice done to him I can count on one hand and still have a finger of two free. Meanwhile everyone who cares to learn, knows Hanzo is grieving after his clan and family or is upset or angry and so on. Which is also why I think so many characters (and fans) think Bi-Han as a Noob Saibot is so vile and evil - because in contrast to other Wraiths and/or Revenants, he does not show any sign of trauma, be it leashing out in anger or outrightly speaking how deeply wounded he is, even if he died in no less brutal way than rest of fallen heroes - and isn't it ironic that Kuai Liang was accused about that too? Of not looking traumatized enough because he does not show openly his pain . And accused by Sonya of all possible people?

It’s easier to relate and understand characters wearing emotions on their sleeve because all the reasoning and effects of their actions are either easy to trace and connect or explicitly stated by characters themselves. Hanzo is such a character. He is sad and angry so he acts in a way a sad and angry man would. Bi-Han though? If people except Bi-Han - a characters specifically connected to ice - to spill out his guts how he feels, to cry how unfair his life was and how everyone is mean to him or to vomit the over-sweetened praises for anyone he likes or jump at any occasion to cuddle anyone at arm length to know he feels anything at all, then… Well, that is definitely not the right character for them. Bi-Han just doesn’t work like that and sure, his anger may flare here and there, but as I was pointing out in different metas and analyzes in the past, that man is not overly emotional to begin with, even when talking with people he likes and cares for. I won’t lie, sometimes to understand Sub-Zero’s reasoning one needs to use all imagination and do some mentally gymnastics as the character won’t tell us what is happening inside his head the way Hanzo would. But that can be fun on its own, to examine and analyze and build theories. However, let’s be real here, it is not for everyone and each for their own.

#mortal kombat #my replies #bi han #shang tsung #sub zero #hanzo hasashi #scorpion #the lin kuei mission & bi han's betrayal gives me headache not because of how sad those chapters ended but how everyne is incompetent #bi han's subplot could go in so many directions if the nrs let them be part of story for good #we could have a story when he stays with shang tsung and we al would need to wonder is this some part of cunning plan? will he betray #brothers or shang tsung and have sub zero being neutral and bidding his time for whatever the final goal was but nope #as for hanzo i like how messed up he is and what a disaster he can be at times #but yes it is easy for people to get characters like him when everything is said and showed outright and much harder to understand #characters like sub zero who won't tell you how they feel #different people like different types of characters #but introverts often are hated as the cold and uncaring bastards because they won't give people the answer they want to get #in easy way aka straight from the characters

[sunflowerdigs]

Where's Guzman in all this? Why ain't he saying anything about buddie?

Because at this point on the show, Buck is the character that has come out as bisexual, and we don't technically know whether Eddie returns his feelings. Oliver is free to talk about the possibility of Buddie within the context of Buck's bisexuality and canon attraction to men.

Interviews are used for multiple purposes and one of them is to continue to build the narrative off-screen. Eddie hasn't yet officially entered the narrative because we technically don't know that he can be attracted to men. If (and maybe I'm just riding the validation high of Oliver's interviews, but I think it's more like when) we see on screen that Eddie possibly does have feelings for men - omg, anon, put on your seatbelt, because hurricane Ryan is gonna be slamming into town alongside Oliver!

#i'm not a fan of cheating storylines but i think this might be why we may get a kiss at the bachelor party #what may happen is they're very drunk and buck remembers it but eddie says he doesn't #and that's how they get around the cheating #additionally they've had Buck state that he isn't 100% sure of what he wants but he thinks it's Tommy #so he's been honest #anyway an accidental kiss frees up Ryan to start giving interviews about Eddie's side of things #because yes they need to get Ryan out there asap i agree but he can't do clear interviews on the topic #until Eddie's attraction to Buck is canon #because otherwise straight people with no imagination will read the interview and say i thought he was straight #and won't get further than that #ryan guzman #buddie #oliver stark #nice anon asks - thanks!!